A national and/or regional inventory of medicinal plants may facilitate the identification of medicinal plants used by communities (including endangered species), outline their distribution and assess their abundance. It can also be used as a tool in tackling questions concerning intellectual property rights issues. Member States are encouraged to establish such inventories.

Research is greatly needed to improve the agronomy of cultivated medicinal plants, promote the exchange of information on agricultural production and investigate the social and environmental impact of medicinal plant cultivation and collection.

Data sheets and monographs should be developed on medicinal plants that take into account the particular situation of regions and countries. Such information materials can be useful instruments for promoting technical advancement. General as well as specific education and training materials should be developed for local growers and collectors of medicinal plants.